The song about heroes and friends was sung by Randy Travis. Here are a few lines from that song. It has made me reflect on my heroes and friends.
I ain’t lived forever, but I’ve lived enough.
I’ve learned to be gentle and I’ve learned to be tough.
I’ve found only two things that last till the end:
One is your heroes, the other is your friends.
Your heroes will help you find good in yourself.
Your friends won’t forsake you for somebody else.
They will both stand beside you through thick and through thin
And that is how it goes with heroes and friends.
I grew up with cowboys I watched on TV
My friends and I sometimes pretended to be.
Years have gone by, but now and again,
My heart rides the range with my heroes and friends.
Ask yourself who are your heroes and friends? Do your heroes inspire you to be a better person? Can you count on your friends to be there for you through the good times and bad?
I have many heroes, most of them in sports in the 50’s and early 60’s. They inspired me to be a better athlete. Sometimes I achieved my goals in sports, more often not. All of that hero worship was superficial. I realize that now.
My one true hero was my dad. Last year he would have been 100 years old. He was a Marine who served in WWII. Dad was 44 when he died. He left me way too early. I was a 17-year-old chuckle head who needed guidance.
In that short time he was with us he taught me character traits that I have tried to follow throughout my life. I still hear him telling me, “When you look in the mirror in the morning ask yourself am I going to do good today.”
My very best friend is my wife, Jan. She definitely has stuck by me in both the good times and the bad. She is my care partner. Many of you have heard me say that I wouldn’t be here today if not for her love and support.
